American prisoners in Iran freed
Two of the three Americans recently released from an Iranian prison in a prisoner-swap deal arrived in the U.S., January 21, 2016. Former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati returned home to Flint, Michigan and Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, arrested in Iran in 2012, landed in North Carolina. Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian was the third American released and is headed back to the U.S. on January 22.
In this photo, Hekmati arrives at an airport in Flint, Michigan, January 21.
Jason Rezaian & Jeff Bezos
Yeganeh Salehi, Jeff Bezos and Jason Rezaian before tkaing off for a return journey to the U.S. on January 22, 2016 in Saarbruecken, Germany. Salehi is Rezaian's wife.
Bezos became the owner of The Washington Post in 2013. "Wheels up and out of Iranian airspace!" tweeted Bezos on January 17 when Rezaian left Iran.
Jason Rezaian & Jeff Bezos
Washington Post owner and Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos poses with Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian aboard a private aircraft before taking off for the U.S. January 22, 2016 in Saarbruecken, Germany.
According to The Post, the plane was decorated with streamers and posters with the message #FreeJason.
American prisoners released by Iran
Flint resident Stephanie Walker holds a "Welcome Home" sign outside the airport where former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati arrived in Flint, Michigan, January 21, 2016.
A fourth American, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, released in exchange for the U.S. pardoning or dropping charges against seven Iranians, chose to stay in Iran. A fifth American released had already traveled back to the U.S.
Former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati
Former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, 32 arrives at an airport in Flint, Michigan, January 21, 2016.
"Many people have traveled this road with me," said Hekmati, 32, on the tarmac. Despite his ordeal, he added, "I'm standing here healthy ... with my head held high."
Hekmati spent 4 1/2 years in an Iranian prison. He was convicted of spying and sentenced to death in 2012 and then later retried and given a 10-year sentence on a lesser charge.
Jason Rezaian
Jason Rezaian (L) is pictured with his wife Yeganeh Salehi (2nd R), mother Mary Rezaian and brother Ali Rezaian (R) in this January 18, 2016 photo taken in Landstuhl, Germany after Rezaian left Iran.
According to the Washington Post, Rezaian was charged with espionage and other crimes after his 2014 detention. He was the Tehran bureau chief for the post.
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian (C), one of the U.S. citizens recently released from detention in Iran, waves to the media as he stands with his wife Yeganeh Salehi (L) and mother Mary Rezaian outside the Emergency Room of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in the southwestern town of Landstuhl, Germany, January 20, 2016.
Jason Rezaian
Jason Rezaian meets the media together with his wife Yeganeh Salehi outside the Emergency Room of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in the southwestern town of Landstuhl, Germany, January 20, 2016.
Rezaian and three other American prisoners were released by Iran ahead of the lifting of international sanctions on Iran, January 16, 2016 -- part of a deal between major powers and Iran to curb Tehran's nuclear program.
Saeed Abedini
Saeed Abedini (L), a pastor from Idaho is pictured with Congressman Robert Pittenger at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, in this undated photo provided by Congressman Robert Pittenger, on January 20, 2016.
Abedini, 35, an Iranian-American pastor from Idaho who was setting up an orphanage in Iran in 2012 when he was detained, was convicted in 2013 on charges of attempting to undermine the government of Iran. He was sentenced to eight years.
Former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati
Amir Hekmati (3rd from L) poses with (L to R) family members Ramy Kurdi, Sarah Hekmati, U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee and Leila Hekmati after meeting for the first time since his release at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany January 18, 2016.
Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine from Flint, Michigan was released by Tehran with Jason Rezaian and Saeed Adedini and flown to Geneva on January 17.